The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft returned to Earth carrying 34.6 kilograms of specialized experimental materials, which included hard-to-cultivate microorganisms, alloy samples, and advanced nanomaterials, as reported by Science and Technology Daily on Monday.
An expert shared with the Global Times that specialized ground teams will conduct comprehensive analyses to confirm the data and potentially develop new theories or technologies.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the samples retrieved by Shenzhou-18 are expected to drive advancements in space fiber laser technology, support the fabrication of materials for extraterrestrial use, and open new avenues for studying the potential spread of Earth-based life in outer space.
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The Shenzhou-18 return capsule, carrying three Chinese astronauts, safely landed back on Earth early Monday morning, concluding their six-month mission aboard the space station.
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft returned with a total of 55 types of scientific samples, covering 28 research projects. These projects span fields like space life sciences, materials science in space, and the study of combustion in microgravity environments.
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The Shenzhou-18 mission, operated by China’s space agency, recently returned from its extended stay aboard the Tiangong space station, bringing back samples crucial for extraterrestrial habitation research.
This mission, part of China’s broader goals to explore sustainable living conditions in space, has involved extensive experiments on human health, life support systems, and biological growth in microgravity.
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The Shenzhou-18 crew studied biological samples, including plants and microorganisms, to understand how they might grow or adapt in space environments, offering insights that could inform future off-Earth habitats on the Moon or Mars.
During their time aboard, the crew also tested and refined life-support technologies aimed at creating more sustainable closed-loop systems for air, water, and waste recycling—key components for long-duration space habitation.
This research supports China’s ambition to develop lunar and deep-space habitats that can sustain human life for extended periods.
The success of Shenzhou-18 marks another step in China’s steady advancements in space exploration, aligning with other missions, such as Chang’e lunar explorations, which also focus on returning samples to Earth for further analysis on extraterrestrial sustainability.
The findings from these studies will be pivotal as China progresses toward its goal of establishing a presence on the Moon and potentially supporting Mars exploration in the future.
For further details, sources like CGTN and Friends of NASA provide ongoing updates on China’s space missions.